Ginger

[Bellawalker]

Hi, I read an article at the weekend suggesting that ginger can be a very effective cure for migraine as good as sumatriptan. Anybody tried it

[gigi14]

I have tried it but wasn't exactly sure of how I was supposed to eat it and how much. I used a raw ginger root and cut a tiny piece off and chewed it. It did help for a little while I'm curious to see how other people have used it.

[designer111 in reply to gigi14]

HI, I'm the same. Wasn't sure how to take it so I nibbled it also as soon as I could feel a cloudy head. Didn't work though.

[Fran_in_California]

I can only speak for myself but we used to have a cool health-oriented restaurant here in Southern California, called The Good Earth. They served a ginger tea that was to die . . . ! Mostly I just wanted to inhale over the cup! They haven't found a cure yet for us hyper-sensitive beings (when you were young, didn't you feel like you actually came from another planet?); we are stuck figuring out our own coping strategies. I've been soooooo lucky in my life. Until last year (64 with a slew of negative health impacts), I got the scintillations and that's ALL! Last year the migraines came on really strong. I might not have known what they were, except that I got the killer headache, up one side, fog-brain, photophobia (I've always been sensitive to sound; yes, I'm a singer), leg weakness to where I had to hang onto something . . . SO! I tried everything the health gurus say: Ginger, coconut water, to balance my electrolytes. In my case, I needed to get off Prednisone, which I'd been on for years. Once I did, the worse migraine symptoms all but vanished. Now I'm trying to do strength-training (with a competent Physical Therapist) and, of course, continuing the delicious ginger and coconut!

[catwoman56]

Hello there.... have you tried ginger sprinkled onto honeydew melon... its really good and very refreshing...x

[Bellawalker]

Thanks everyone, the article suggests 1/8 teaspoon of powder Ginger is as effective as sumatriptan. I have found a cup of pukka Ginger tea very refreshing and have eased a regular stress type headache but would never have occurred to take during an attack. I'm too busy diving for bed. My migraines have got significantly worse over the past number of years. I ended up being investigated for TIA about 4 years ago and they've got a lot more frequent in the last 7-8 months. I've finally given in and started amitriptyline 20mg at night since Easter and I have just had one very mild migraine but the dry mouth is driving me crazy.

[babs1234 in reply to Bellawalker]

Amitriptilyne worked for me for about 9 months then the pain started to come through. However they made me completely loopy, I didn't know whether I was coming or going or had been..

[seawarrior]

Having read somewhere that ginger could help keep migraine at bay, I bought some capsules from a health food shop and took the recommended dose for three months; waste of time and money; no effect at all. I rely on sumatriptan but am careful not to take more than nine 50mg tablets a month. Sumatriptan is the only thing that kills my migraines.

I've also tried ginger in combination with cayenne and riboflavin. Again, there was no change in my condition.

Incidentally,Bella, you use the word "cure". I think I'm right in saying that migraine cannot be cured, only managed.

[Bellawalker in reply to seawarrior]

I really meant manage an attack, which would be more than enough for me

[Ceedee]

I havent tried it but will now (unfortunately I dont like ginger !!) thanks for the tip

[Leeee in reply to Ceedee]

I had a random conversation with another member of staff and he swore by ginger, but in the form of a drink. He said drink ginger beer (which isn't actually beer). I looked it up elsewhere and there was recommendation to drinking the old Jamaica variety. I've so far tried it once and the migraine did go but I'm not sure if is was the drink or whether the migraine had run its course.

I've since got a couple more on my desk at work ready for the next episode.

[Bellawalker in reply to Leeee]

That sounds more appealing

[Ceedee]

Ive bought some 250mg capsules (as used in the study) , next migraine will tell

[Bellawalker in reply to Ceedee]

Let us know how you get on

[Vivante]

Ginger does NOT cure migraine. If you take Warfarin, ginger may interact with it. I have made some comments regarding migraine previously, with respect to all and not wishing to offend anyone. I was told and it has been written down by others that yoga can cure migraine, it does not. I was told headstands can cure migraine, it does not. Having suffered from migraine since I was a child, I had suffered from vomiting and found excessive noise did not agree with me. There were several occasions I had been on a boat, once on the Thames, once going from Barry to Bath (nearabouts). Each time I suffered the most horrendous migraine and vomiting for a day or two after. The only thing that cured me was open heart surgery to repair a hole in the heart which was born with.

Keep well, I do know how you feel .

[seawarrior]

Vivante: Different people react differently to migraine treatments. What works for one will not work for another. Similarly, different people get migraine attacks for different reasons.

Concerning Warfarin, you're right. Ginger thins the blood which, I think, is one of the effects of Warfarin, its main purpose being to lengthen the time it takes for the blood to coagulate. With Warfarin, you have to be careful with all kinds of foods and treatments which may enhance or interfere with the Warfarin effect.

[Bellawalker in reply to seawarrior]

If ginger thins the blood it may well help

[usanewyork in reply to Bellawalker]

Migraines are somewhat caused by spasms or dilation of the cerebral blood vessels. Ginger works great for nausea.

[seawarrior]

Turmeric and Cayenne are also blood thinners. You can get capsules at a health food shop.

[Vivante]

I hope you are all well at this time. I decided it was time I had a clear out of all my magazines and books. Thankfully I kept some of them. I haven't take Ginger for years because I knew of the risks. For a person who suffers from nausea, it can be helpful. More info from one of my books, which I did not know about. Ginger may interact with blood pressure drugs.

The Migraine Trust provides fact sheets which I found useful. Supplements and Herbs for Migraine is most interesting. I can understand now how important it is not to take supplements if a person takes other medications. I fear that I may have made my condition worse over the years because I listened to some.

For those who take Magnesium, there is some interesting info there also.

My thanks to The Migraine Trust for providing so much interesting info.

[sallybacon]

I eat ginger all the time and it has never affected my migraines. Wish it would, as I have one pretty much everyday.

[wonkydonky]

Hi, my Consultant Rheumatologist has me on turmeric and ginger tablets (from health food shops) + Amitriptyline to help with hand arthritis pain as well as hemiplegic migraines. I had rizartriptan and then saw a neurologist and had a 3 month course of topiramate which made me feel really odd but seems to have helped enormously. Hope this helps and you get some migraine relief

[usanewyork]

Has anyone tried Botox injections? I have migraines for over sixty years, and it has become worse! My first series of Botox was 6/2/16. It is too soon to tell if it is going to be effective. I was just hoping that I could hear from someone who has had them.

[Cally01 in reply to usanewyork]

Hi, I've had botox 3 times unfortunately didn't help. They say the more you get it the better chance you have of a reaction.

Someone here may have had a positive result to share with you hopefully 😃

I did get them to inject between my eye's and it helped with the pressure / daily eye pain behind my eyes but the 33 injections over scalp done nothing for me.

[tremearne]

I've just come across this post while looking for something else which may be migraine connected. For me ginger is actually one of the worst triggers for my migraines.